DULDULAO DOT NET This Day & Beyond

Author: WILMAR NICOLAS DULDULAO

  • RCBC advocates bank consumer protection with latest online campaign

    RCBC advocates bank consumer protection with latest online campaign

    As today’s banking consumers shift to digital, RCBC wants Filipinos to make wise and careful choices in their transactions. While going online makes everyday activities easier and convenient, it also exposes accounts to risks which is why it is always important to take precautions to protect one’s personal information.

    To remind everyone to be proactive in securing their bank accounts, the Yuchengco-led bank introduces a team of safety-savvy individuals, The Unstealables, to show the importance of keeping financial data secure both online and offline. With this unique trio, RCBC highlights the responsibility it shares with clients in keeping the integrity of their accounts by giving simple tips and smart practices.


    Tasked with helping RCBC in educating Filipinos to be responsible and informed banking customers, The Unstealables includes: 

    Brad the traditional banker

    Accessing financial services online might be the answer for some millennials these days but for Brad,  nothing beats going to the bank’s branch for a personal transaction. LikeBrad, you can keep your data protected and track your money by constantly keeping bank transaction slips as proof of your activity. You should also be vigilant and avoid communicating with tellers outside the bank as they may only be phishing for account information. Remember that RCBC will never ask for your password, PIN security, and address over the phone or online.


    Mo, the digital-savvy millennial

    Mo is a tech-smart individual but as much as he likes to use his smartphone or laptop for transactions, he values branch-level security even when banking on-the-go. Like Mo, you should go online to check your account activity to track any unauthorized transactions. You can easily view your statement of account when you visit www.rcbconlinebanking.com and enroll your account. You should also be wary in sharing any financial achievements, such as posting a selfie with your newly approved credit card, to avoid fraud and identity theft.


    Olivia, the avid online shopper

    With the holidays fast-approaching, avid shoppers like Olivia are excited to go on a shopping spree with their debit or credit cards.  When shopping online, she makes it a habit to check the online store’s URL to know whether it is trustworthy or not. If the URL is “https” and not “http”, then you are safe from scams and even computer viruses. When inputting your bank details to checkout, RCBC also gives you added security by sending a One-Time-Pin to your messages for every online transaction to ensure that you are the one making the purchase.

    Together with The Unstealables, RCBC assures its banking clients that they are secured by constantly giving news and updates on their safety measures. The commercial bank believes that every Filipino has the right to reliable, accessible, and affordable financial products and services and will continue to safeguard the trust that consumers have placed on them.

    John Paulo Ondra Caparros
    Public Relations Department
    Strategic works, Inc.

    +63.893.7472 | +639. 17.158.7918
    john.caparros@stratworks.ph
    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH

  • Reaping the Bounty of Courage: BAVI’s Mascarinas recognized as Outstanding Leader in Asia at recent ACES Awards

    Reaping the Bounty of Courage: BAVI’s Mascarinas recognized as Outstanding Leader in Asia at recent ACES Awards

    Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI) President and General Manager Ronald Mascarinas was recently lauded as one of the Outstanding Leaders in Asia at the Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability Awards (ACES) held at the Fairmont Singapore last October 11, proving that he is anything but chicken in his leadership.

    Cited as an individual who exhibits the ideal blend of business acumen, professionalism, entrepreneurial caliber and astuteness, Mascariñas was instrumental to the continued success of one of the largest poultry integrator companies in the country.

    Under Mascariñas’ leadership, BAVI rose to be one of the top poultry integrators, and has set itself apart from the industry by being the first and only poultry integrator to offer No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) chicken. BAVI is presently the country’s largest rotisserie chicken chain, with more than 1,200 rotisserie stores nationwide.

    BAVI was initially established as a poultry integrator company operating in Cebu and Davao, Philippines, carrying the Bounty Fresh brand.  Incorporated in 1997, BAVI is presently ranked 207th among the top 1,000 corporations in the Philippines.

    In 2002 the company embarked on a program to modernize operational capability and market expansion, led by Mascariñas. The President helped link together hundreds of broiler contract farms, dozens of hatcheries, feed mills, poultry processing plants and processed meats plants, with the end goal of establishing a highly efficient supply chain in poultry integration. The venture was an unmitigated success, and consistently earned Triple A ratings from the National Meat Inspection Service for cleanliness.

    The implementation of the Asian Free Trade Agreement, however, led to an open market, which led to cheaper imports. Faced with thin margins and fierce competition, BAVI faced a dire threat to its existence. In the light of this challenge, Mascariñas made a bold move to diversify operations. BAVI launched its own retail operation, and developed a complementing range of cooked chicken and dressed chicken products.  In 2009, the company launched its oven roasted chicken business under the trade name “Chooks-to-Go”, completing the integration cycle of poultry operations, from the farm to the dinner table.

    Leading with vision and courage. Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI) President and General Manager Ronald Mascariñas accepts award as one of the Outstanding Leaders in Asia at the Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards.

    Mascariñas, attributed his bold business strategy to the trinity of Vision, People and Training.  “I have always believed in the importance of a good reputation founded on ethical and fair business relationships; and the paramount importance of competent and trustworthy people in the organization working as a team. What connects the two is good management. A good leader teaches, guides, and even handholds, if needed. A good leader does everything to ensure that people who work with them are encouraged, and taught the value of discipline.”

    Mascariñas’ win is one of 11 awards won by the Philippines at the fifth Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability Awards.

    John Paulo Ondra Caparros
    Public Relations Department
    Strategic works, Inc.

    +63.893.7472 | +639. 17.158.7918
    john.caparros@stratworks.ph
    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH

  • HIV awareness must be made more understandable for young adults

    HIV awareness must be made more understandable for young adults

    Only 15 percent of young adults aged 15 to 24 years old have knowledge about HIV prevention, a UNAIDS Philippines study showed. The lack of an extensive sex education in the curriculum is seen as a contributing factor—directly or indirectly—to the country’s high HIV growth rate. 

    Discussions on the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV have always been done in extremes – either it is too technical and clinical or it is peppered with myths and falsehoods – creating a large disconnect with young adults, the audience who matter the most. 


    “We believe that education is the best way to prevent HIV, especially among the young adults. If they are equipped with the right knowledge about HIV and its potential risks to their health, we believe that they stand a chance in protecting themselves against the chronic disease,” said (Karol Canlas) Durex Philippines (Brand Manager). 

    In September, Durex Philippines took the playful and quirky approach to bringing HIV awareness to mind with the launch of its “Always Come Prepared” campaign. Led by the radio trio of Sam YG, Tony Toni, and Slick Rick, the campaign aims to make the conversation on the threats and dangers of the disease lighter and easier to understand for the general public.  

    To pique the interests of young adults on the campaign, Durex also presented a unique visual of a toy soldier using the condom as a parachute.

    “Their openness and tongue-in-cheek manner of talking about sex-related issues and concerns, particularly HIV, is a good way for us to reach the younger audience. Medical experts have long talked about the dangers of HIV, but why is it still rising in the Philippines? The message must have been lost somewhere,” said (Chrisel Segundo, Category Manager – Relief and Wellness). Condoms are still the only known effective method of preventing the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. With its latest campaign, Durex Philippines aims to raise awareness and encourage the public to take active precautionary measures against HIV.

    John Paulo Ondra Caparros
    Public Relations Department
    Strategic works, Inc.

    +63.893.7472 | +639. 17.158.7918
    john.caparros@stratworks.ph
    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH

  • Our Lady of Fatima University Rises in the South with New Laguna Campus

    Our Lady of Fatima University Rises in the South with New Laguna Campus

    OLFU enters another milestone after 50 years of quality education.

    Breaking ground for another milestone. Together with the University Chaplain, OLFU executives set a time capsule in the four-hectare Macabling property in Santa Rosa, Laguna, for the groundbreaking of a new campus. From left: Yvonne S. Guevara, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Enrico O. Santos, Member of the Board of Trustees; Don August O. Santos, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Fr. Lito Caliwag, University Chaplain; Dr. Caroline Marian S. Enriquez, University President; Dr. Mylene S. Abad Santos, Vice President for Student Affairs; and Robert Bjorn O. Santos, Alumni Affairs Director.

    Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) takes its first foray to the south following 50 years of providing quality education in and around Metro Manila as well as Central Luzon with the groundbreaking of a sixth campus set to rise in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

    “When we open a campus, the first and foremost that we have in mind are the students coming in,” said Don August O. Santos, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of OLFU. “With any person who goes through Fatima, and graduates with a degree from Fatima, there’s a sense of achievement that we were able to mold that person to the best that he or she could be.”

    The new campus is set on a spacious four-hectare property in Macabling and will initially house a five-story building complete with school facilities and amenities for holistic student learning. Like in OLFU’s other locations, the Laguna campus will offer business courses together with the university’s trademark healthcare programs to meet the demands of the Santa Rosa community.

    “We’ll offer both medical and business programs so we are able to address current needs. If there’s a strong calling for business programs, we’ll include them in our offerings,” OLFU President Dr. Caroline Marian S. Enriquez said. “Because we are known for our medical programs, we’ll include those as well. We’re delivering the best for each program.”

    A nod to heritage, this milestone reflects a return to the humble beginnings of one of OLFU’s founders, Professor Jose Olivares. In 1967, Professor Olivares founded a 25-bed general hospital in Valenzuela City to convince his son-in-law, Dr. Vicente Santos, to cancel migration plans to the United States. Soon the hospital grew to a nursing training center in 1973 and then to a medical college in 1979. Further expansion led to a second campus as well as a more diversified academic program in the 1990s. In 2002, Our Lady of Fatima College was granted university status by the Commission on Higher Education.

    “It’s like coming full circle. When we were kids, we would go to the Olivares ancestral house in Santa Cruz, Laguna, and we would always pass along this path (the new campus site),” Santos said. Santos and Dr. Enriquez are among Professor Olivares’ seven grandchildren who are part of the university leadership.

    “We thought it would be a good idea to come back to where we came from. Our roots are from Laguna,” Dr. Enriquez explained regarding why the university chose Santa Rosa for its latest campus.

    The Laguna campus adds to Our Lady of Fatima University’s roster of educational institutions located in Valenzuela City, Quezon City, Antipolo City, City of San Fernando (Pampanga), and Cabanatuan City (Nueva Ecija).The university offers several courses including Hotel and Restaurant Management, Information Technology, Accounting, Education, Civil Engineering, Criminology, Psychology, and Maritime Education, as well as its heritage healthcare programs, namely Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Medical Laboratory Science, and Dentistry. OLFU is currently home to about 45,000 students across all campuses.

    Catherine Llanes

    Media Relations Manager

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  • RCBC joins industry forum on the future of payment for Filipinos with ePiso

    RCBC joins industry forum on the future of payment for Filipinos with ePiso

    RCBC took part in the recent The Future of Finance, Philippines 2018 conference with the theme “Strong Economy and Vital Innovation for the Philippines”. Organized by The Asian Banker, the annual forum featured discussions on the opportunities and challenges in the local banking market, how to reach the unbanked through digital technology, and how to successfully usher the country into the new era of digital banking.

    Margarita Lopez talks about RCBC’s continued efforts towards financial inclusion through empowering consumers and local businesses with ePiso. She shared that Filipinos can quickly adapt to digital solutions as she recounted the success of ePiso test launches where communities appreciated using the digitized currency and enjoyed cashless transactions with RCBC partner merchants in Muntinlupa City and Bulacan, and where farmers received loans and bought input supplies via ePiso in Bukidnon province.

    A set of global speakers and panelists, including RCBC first senior vice president and head of digital banking group Margarita Lopez, presented case studies and best practices among more than 200 bankers, financial services professionals, policymakers, investors, innovators, regulators, academics, local, and international business leaders.

    Margarita Lopez talks about RCBC’s continued efforts towards financial inclusion through empowering consumers and local businesses with ePiso. She shared that Filipinos can quickly adapt to digital solutions as she recounted the success of ePiso test launches where communities appreciated using the digitized currency and enjoyed cashless transactions with RCBC partner merchants in Muntinlupa City and Bulacan, and where farmers received loans and bought input supplies via ePiso in Bukidnon province.

    During the panel discussion on the Future of Payments for Filipinos, Lopez talked about the RCBC ePiso. “We want to enable easy, secure and convenient electronic payments as part of their day-to-day habits and once we do that, we then become part of their everyday lives,” noted Lopez as she underscored the bank’s mission to become part of consumers’ activities and to enable them with access to digital payments through ePiso.

    Industry experts led the discussion on how to effectively drive the nation to a cash-lite economy. The panelists included (from left) The Asian Banker international resource director Richard Hartung, RCBC first senior vice president and digital banking group head Margarita Lopez, Development Bank of the Philippines head of branch banking sector and marketing group Antonio Maramag, USAID/E-PESO Activity chief of party Mamerto Tangonan, and Total System Services vice president and regional head of Asia, Middle East & Africa Malek Mroueh.

    Earlier this year, RCBC introduced the country’s first-of-its-kind digital currency, ePiso, that provides a more secure, affordable, and efficient way to handle cash for daily transactions. With ePiso, the bank hopes to bring a sustainable economic network that would advance financial inclusion in the country. ePiso has been successfully test-launched to residents in Brgy. Poblacion in Muntinlupa City, farming communities in Bukidnon, and merchants in Bulacan.

    John Paulo Ondra Caparros
    Public Relations Department
    Strategic works, Inc. 

    +63.893.7472 | +639. 17.158.7918
    john.caparros@stratworks.ph
    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH

  • Send a child to school with TravelBook.ph and World Vision

    Send a child to school with TravelBook.ph and World Vision

    Sadly, it has been a common scenario—seeing children along sidewalks with no shelter while others cross the streets to knock on car windows and beg for money.

    It will probably take forever to eradicate poverty in the Philippines, but we cannot deny that small acts of kindness can go a long way. You can do your part by participating in creative initiatives from corporate partnership programs that you can access anytime and anywhere with your computer or smartphone and will not cost you a lot.


    Hotel and tour booking mobile application and website TravelBook.ph, through its partnership with World Vision Philippines, has been helping send kids to school through their “Donation for Education” project. When booking a room in their favorite hotel for their vacation, customers can donate as little as PHP 1.00, which will go to the child sponsorship and culture of reading program of World Vision Philippines.

    TravelBook.ph has also supported World Vision Philippines through efforts in designing Disaster Risk Mitigation Program for public schools in Isabela in 2017 and Lakbay Pag-asa in North Cotabato this 2018.

    TravelBook.ph believes that “The most valuable means to nurture a child is to create a community that is both safe and resilient. When a child is provided with life’s basic necessities, has access to education, and is empowered for a holistic development, everyone takes a step forward to an improved society.”

    Small acts of kindness, when put together, create a huge and lasting impact, and with the numerous opportunities—both online and offline—to contribute, maybe eradicating poverty completely can be a reality. 

    For more details, please contact:
    Hyacinth Anne S. Uri
    PR and Media Specialist
    HyacinthAnne.Uri@travelbook.ph
    +63 (998) 840-4054
    +63 (2) 304-5580

    About TravelBook.ph

    TravelBook.ph is the leading online travel e-commerce company (online travel agent or OTA) in the Philippines dedicated to offering great value hotel bookings and with a varied selection of Philippine hotels and resorts in Baguio, Batangas, Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Davao, Laguna, Metro Manila, Palawan, Pampanga, Tagaytay, Zambales, and more. A total of 3,200 affordable hotels are currently listed in Travelbook.ph.

    TravelBook.ph also offers the best / lowest prices with attractive discounts for hotels and resorts and innovative payment options without credit card – “Pay at Hotel, No Credit Card Needed.”

    TravelBook.ph also offers exclusive reward points: Customers also automatically earn back 5% of the total amount they spend as reward points, which they can use to get discounts on their future bookings (1 point is equivalent to PHP 1.00).

    Customers can also use TravelBook.ph’s convenient mobile app to book accommodations on the go. It is available on the App Store and Google Play.

    Lastly, TravelBook.ph is a proud Philippine-based company with 24/7 support. It has a Filipino call center ready to assist customers anytime.

    To know more about convenient and affordable hotel bookings all over the Philippines, visit www.travelbook.ph. Follow TravelBook.ph on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TravelBook.ph/, Twitter https://twitter.com/travelbookph, and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/travelbookph/.

  • Discover the winning formula for business success

    Discover the winning formula for business success

    World-renowned executive coach and best-selling author, Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, tells business executives to always take a step back and ask themselves one critical question – is it worth it? It is one of the things that most business schools do not teach but every CEO must know, or one can always learn the hard way.

    According to Dr. Marshall, there are three life lessons that every person must learn, especially CEOs and business leaders, in order to succeed in both their professional and personal lives. The first is winning is not everything.

    “One problem of the successful people I work with is winning too much. It is important for one to win – meaningful win, critical win, trivial win, and even those not worth it, we want to win anyway. Winners love to win. Problem is we want to win too much,” said Dr. Marshall.

    A key to success is you don’t have to always win. The more you make others win, the more successful you become. In the drive to win all the time, most people lose out on life’s other equally important aspects.

    Dr. Marshall adds another lesson – stop trying to add value to everything. “In most cases, when a person comes up with a great idea, the natural tendency is instead of saying it is a great idea, one would say it’s a nice idea but why don’t you add this to it,” said Dr. Marshall.

    While the value of the idea comes up by 5 percent, the commitment of the person to executing the idea goes down 50 percent.

    And the third lesson is – don’t judge too much. One of the key lessons that are not taught is to help others more and judge less. “Before making a judgmental comment, stop, breathe, and think if this is going to help your relationship. If the answer is no, do you really have to say it?” said Dr. Marshall.

    Dr. Marshall will have a two-day, two-city tour in Asia this October and will be at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria on October 26, 2018, for the CEO, HR, & Senior Leaders Conference. He will be joined by Dr. Peter Chee, ITD President and the 1st Asian ranked among the top 6 Global Coaching Gurus, and Serely Alcaraz, #1 master trainer and chief coach at ITD World.

    Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, the World’s #1 Leadership Thinker (by Harvard Business Review) will share his Executive Coaching Secrets, and his #1 NY Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling book: Triggers during the conference.

    The Conference is an ITD Mega Guru event that will let you learn from the best to be the best. Attending this one-day-only event is a must for top-level leaders, entrepreneurs, and HR, Organizational Development and Training professionals. For more information and registration, call ITD World Philippines at +632 887 7428, email at itdmanila@itdworld.com, or visit https://www.itdworld.com/ceoconference/manila/

    John Paulo Ondra Caparros
    Public Relations Department
    Strategic works, Inc. 

    +63.893.7472 | +639. 17.158.7918
    john.caparros@stratworks.ph
    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH

  • Power up your travel lifestyles with Cebu Pacific GetGo Visa Cards

    Power up your travel lifestyles with Cebu Pacific GetGo Visa Cards

    Traveling to new destinations and discovering the wonders of the world is already a rewarding experience in itself. But, did you know that your daily expenses and shopping can get you more exciting benefits for your weekend trips and holiday vacations?

    Amazing shopping benefits and travel rewards await when you apply for your own Cebu Pacific GetGo Visa cards.

    As more people are enjoying a lifestyle of travel, debit and credit cards are doubling as loyalty rewards cards to bring more thrilling and memorable experiences. The country’s leading local carrier, Cebu Pacific, offers a bigger fleet of GetGo cards powered by Visa and UnionBank to make traveling a rewarding experience in more ways than one. With your own Cebu Pacific GetGo Visa cards, you can enjoy the following:

    Cashless transactions abroad

    Most cards, whether debit, credit, or prepaid, are now accepted worldwide. This makes souvenir shopping more convenient and hassle-free as you don’t have to worry about carrying physical cash abroad. Cebu Pacific GetGo’s newest prepaid card also works as a multi-currency card that frequent travelers can reload and use at Visa-accredited merchants anywhere in the world.


    First-class treatment

    Cebu Pacific and GetGo also let you experience world-class accommodation while waiting for your next flight. Cebu Pacific GetGo Platinum Credit cardholders can have access to airport lounges in NAIA Terminal 3 where they can rest and relax before their international flights. You can also get priority check-ins, free 5kg baggage allowance, and even free travel insurance. 


    Early alerts on promos and seat sales

    What also makes travel rewards programs worthwhile is the exclusive notices on seat sales to your favorite local and international destinations. When you have a Cebu Pacific GetGo Visa card, you can instantly avail of special flights with your points or earn points for free travels when you use your card to pay for your tickets. You can also enjoy exciting promos with partner merchants of GetGo and UnionBank. 


    Instant points for more adventures

    Converting points has never been easier with the line of Cebu Pacific GetGo Visa cards. The cards provide one of the best earn rates in the country – one GetGo point for every P30 spent using the credit card and P88 spent using the debit and prepaid card. You can even earn twice when you purchase from GetGo’s partner merchants using your debit or credit card. GetGo points are also automatically transferred to your GetGo account every month so you can fly for free faster.

    Enjoy all these exclusive travel benefits when you apply for a card for your everyday lifestyle. You can select from CEB GetGo Debit Card (http://bit.ly/CEBGetGoDebitCard), Credit Card (http://bit.ly/CEBGetGoCreditCard), Platinum Credit Card, and Prepaid Card (http://bit.ly/CEBGetGoPrepaidCard).

    Cardholders who will apply for a Cebu Pacific GetGo Credit or Platinum Credit Card from now up to October 31, 2018 can enjoy 8,000 GetGo points by spending P20,000 using their new credit card within 65 days from card approval date. A special 8,000 GetGo points promo code will be rewarded to Platinum cardholders who will spend another P20,000 within the same period. Go to https://unionbankph.com/8kgetgopoints for the full promo mechanics.

    So, what are you waiting for? Live the best life with your own Cebu Pacific GetGo Visa cards by UnionBank and enjoy points for a free trip to your dream travel destination! Promo is extended until October 31, 2018.

    Amazing shopping benefits and travel rewards await when you apply for your own Cebu Pacific GetGo Visa cards.

    For more information on memberships and partners, visit www.getgo.com.ph. Stay updated on the latest promos by liking GetGoPH’s official pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

    John Paulo Ondra Caparros
    Public Relations Department
    Strategic works, Inc. 

    +63.893.7472 | +639. 17.158.7918
    john.caparros@stratworks.ph
    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH